The lobster trap Christmas Tree in Provincetown. Photo credit: Ptown Tourism.
by Jeff Shaw
The holiday season is upon us! And Cape Cod is a wonderful place to experience authentic Christmas cheer, “where modern amenities and Victorian charm casually coexist.” (Boston Magazine)
So in an effort to spread some Christmas cheer, check out these holiday events on Cape Cod. You may just catch the holiday spirit!
Christmas by the Sea, Chatham
Christmas by the Sea weekend, December 13th – 15th, is full of events that have leapt right out of a Norman Rockwell painting. The celebration kicks off on Friday night with a children’s light parade that escorts Santa down Main Street on a fire truck to the tree lighting ceremony at Sears Park (intersection of Seaview and Main Streets).
Activities continue in shops up and down Main Street as well as free horse & carriage rides and visits with Santa in the Chamber Information booth (next to Yankee Ingenuity gift shop). Saturday brings plenty more events in the businesses around town, including a special movie screening for the little ones at the Chatham Orpheum Theater and Breakfast with Santa.
Christmas Parades, Falmouth, Hyannis & Mashpee
Christmas Carolers in Falmouth. Photo credit: Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce.
Gardens Aglow, Heritage Museum and Gardens, Sandwich
Gardens aglow! Photo credit: Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce.
Gardens Aglow at Heritage Museums & Gardens in Sandwich celebrates the season with over nine miles of holiday lights. Stroll through the illuminated grounds, while also taking time to pose with Santa in a 1914 Ford Model T, take a ride on a vintage carousel, roast marshmallows, and participate in a reindeer scavenger hunt.
Drive through Sandwich and try to spot all of The Giants, over two dozen illuminated sculptures along 6A.
Polar Express, Cape Cod Central Railroad, Bourne & Hyannis
One of Santa’s little helpers. Photo credit: Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce.
All aboard! Magic is in the air on the Cape Cod Central Railroad’s Polar Express, where passengers will sing carol over cookies and hot cocoa. Set to the sounds of the motion picture soundtrack, passengers will relive the magic of the classic story as they are whisked away for a festive trip to meet Santa.
Trains depart out of the Buzzards Bay depot from late November through December.
Lobster Pot [Christmas] Tree, Provincetown
There is quite possibly nothing more quintessential New England than a Christmas Tree made entirely out of lobster traps. Provincetown’s Lobster Pot Tree is made using over 100 of them – all borrowed from local lobstermen – and is accentuated by 3,000+ LED lights and colorful buoys. Visit Provincetown’s Lopes Square anytime during the holiday season.
The Cape Cod Central Railroad scenic lunch train approaches a crossing from the East. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.
by Jeff Shaw
There are many ways to see Cape Cod – walk, bike, sail, drive, even board a helicopter or airplane. But a lesser-known option, equally enjoyable, is riding the rails.
Back in the 19th century, the railroads, transformed Cape Cod from rural farmland and fishing villages into a summer resort destination. The railroads, not boats and not (yet) cars, were the main (only?) transportation method on and off-Cape. Indeed, in 1910, the Buzzards Bay Railroad Bridge was the first bridge to be constructed (the first versions of the Bourne and Sagamore followed later), which shows railroad travel was indeed the priority.
Today, there are two passenger rail services on Cape Cod; Cape Cod Central Railroad and the Cape Cod Flyer. The former consists of scenic or holiday-themed trains with food service; the latter, more of a commuter line, with many Bostonians trading the city for the beach on weekends.
Bourne Station overlooks the Bourne Bridge above and Canal Bikeway below. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.
While you may notice an occasional passing train or hear a faint train whistle in the distance, a half dozen train stations are on Cape Cod. If you are a fan of trains, as many in my family are, the stations are worth a visit. So I took my 3-year-old son on a train station tour this month. I never thought train stations, could be exciting, but wow, chasing down the scenic lunch train to view it from multiple stations was a lot of fun!
The Roy Earl Jones, III Bourne Station, Bourne Bridge Road, Bourne
Located directly under the Bourne Bridge, the Bourne Station has a magnificent view of the Cape Cod Canal, with dozens of benches overlooking the waterway and recreational path. There are picnic tables behind the platform as well as public restrooms.
One of a handful of historic sites that comprise the Museums at Aptucxet, the Grey Gables Station was built for President Grover Cleveland, who summered on Cape Cod during his presidency. A cardboard cut-out of the president stands next to the entrance to the station during viewing hours. My son was particularly confused by the small stretch of track in front of the building that went nowhere on either end. A century-old locomotive relic is found adjacent to the parking lot.
Gray Gables Station. Jay wonders where is the rest of the railroad track!? Photo credit Jeff Shaw.
Just a short walk from downtown Sandwich, the historic train station provides close viewing of trains lumbering along the line. Not that long ago, passengers boarded scenic trains at the Sandwich Station, which I recall doing in 2015 (Octoberfest Scenic Train). Somewhat ironically, given the “historic” designation of the station, the platform and awning are both worn out and parking lot lines faded. A raised platform can be found in the distance, but local vegetation has engulfed the ramp.
West Barnstable Station, 2469 Meetinghouse Way, West Barnstable
A bustling area on Saturdays, the West Barnstable Station picks up passengers for scenic trains on Saturdays (in season). The station museum is also open on Saturdays from 9:30am-1:30pm. Plus, a model train station club, located across from the parking lot, does live demonstrations on Saturdays. If you like trains, this is the place to be on a Saturday morning!
West bound trains pass Sandwich Station on the track closest to the station. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.
Hyannis Transportation Center, 252 Main Street, Hyannis
The beginning or end of most scenic trains as well as weekend commuter service, the Hyannis Station is the literally the transportation center. Just steps from downtown Hyannis and the harbor, the Hyannis station houses Cape Cod Central Railroad, Cape Cod Flyer, regional and private bus services. Connections to the Nantucket Ferry are also nearby.
Falmouth Station, Junction of Route 28A and Route 151 (Enter Shining Sea Bikeway Parking North; 22 County Road/1 Depot Road, Falmouth)
Even Cape Cod Central Railroad staff are careful not to overstate the Falmouth location as an actual station. There is no official address; just the junction of two roads act as the official directions. If you are using GPS, the recommended location is Shining Sea Bikeway Parking North. Nonetheless, a scenic dinner train departs the Falmouth “location” at 5:00pm on July 21 and August 18 only (in 2023). Talk about an unique experience!
The view of the Wareham River from Wareham Village Station platform is simply stunning. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.
Other Notable Train Stations on Cape Cod
Chatham Railroad Museum, 153 Depot Road, Chatham
Since 1960, the Chatham Railroad Museum, housed in a vacant depot building, has collected thousands of railroad artifacts, including the restored wood-sided red caboose in the backyard. Admission is free, though donations are appreciated. The museum is located across from Veteran’s Field, home of the Chatham Anglers and a short walk from downtown Chatham.
Former Hyannis Train Station, 489 Yarmouth Road, Hyannis
Hidden in plain sight is a former New Haven Railroad Station across from Barnstable Airport. The enlarged white sliding door is an unmistakable feature of this former railroad building. The first-floor awning surrounding the front and left side of the building, plus the location next to the railroad tracks are also “red” flags [train crossing warning pun intended] for the history of this building.
The Buzzards Bay Station platform overlooks the Cape Cod Railroad Bridge. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.
Other Notable Train Stations off Cape Cod
Buzzards Bay Station, Buzzards Bay Park
The Buzzards Bay Station may as well be named Cape Cod Railroad Bridge Station, because that’s exactly the view you have from the platform. If you are interested in watching the railroad bridge move up and down, just look East!
Wareham Village Station, 290 Main Street, Wareham
Don’t be fooled, Google maps will bring you to a former depot building, that is now outdoor seating for a nearby restaurant (the gated building is home to a dozen or so tables and chairs). The actual Wareham Village Station is located next to the Wareham Fire Department, Ladder 1. The Wareham Village Station has a stunning view of the Wareham River.
The distance between the teams located farthest from one another is 47 miles. Photo credit: Google maps.
The month of June is known for many things; graduations, maximum daylight, outdoor concerts and endless replays of Alice Cooper’s Schools Out [for summer]. But on Cape Cod, the month of June means the beginning of a wonderful tradition and summer rite of passage: the Cape Cod Baseball League.
If you need a refresher, ten teams located between Wareham (just off-Cape) and Orleans, (Lower Cape), compete annually in this officially NCAA sanctioned summer league. (Though, as many books point out, the origins of organized baseball on Cape Cod are local and amateur.) Most professional scouts love to be assigned to the Cape League because of the concentration of teams. As an example, the distance between Wareham and Orleans, the two farthest outposts of the 10-team league, is a mere 47 miles. Conversely, teams in leagues in larger geographical areas may be separated by 47 miles each!
Indeed, closeness and geography makes the Cape Cod Baseball League special. So why not see for yourself and visit each team’s ballpark this summer? Below is a plan to do just that…in a single weekend. You read that right, it can be done:
Double Header Weekends. The weekends of June 17-19 (Father’s Day) and June 24-26 both have double headers on Sunday. The earliest double header begins at 2pm (at Cotuit) and the latest double header begins at 5pm (at Chatham). Meaning you can easily catch three complete games and probably see even more games if you only stay for a few innings and move along. Watching three complete games sounds like the ultimate ‘summer catch’ [Cape League-based movie pun intended]!
Last Weekend. The July 29-31 games are the last regular season weekend games. If you are savvy, you can catch games (heading East) at Hyannis (6pm) Harwich (6:30pm), Orleans (6:30pm) and Chatham (7pm) on Friday; start Saturday in Brewster (4pm) and then proceed West to Wareham (6pm—crossing the bridge should be okay on a Saturday), then head back over the bridge and down to Falmouth (6pm). On Sunday, start in YD at 4:30pm, then head West to the second half of the Cotuit game (4:30pm) and then the middle of the game at Bourne (6pm).
Unique Game Locations. Four Cape League teams will travel off-Cape for regular season game play. The first game between YD vs. Hyannis will be Wednesday, July 20 at 11:00am at Dunkin’ Donuts Park in Hartford, home of the Class AA Hartford Yard Goats, affiliated with the Colorado Rockies. The second game between Bourne vs. Wareham will be Monday, July 25 at 6:45pm at Polar Park in Worchester, home of the Worcester Red Sox. And of course, don’t forget the All-Star Game on Saturday, July 23 at 6:00pm in Wareham.
Pinned locations of all ten Cape Cod Baseball League teams, color coded by West and East Divisions. Photo credit: CCBL.
Below are the addresses to the fields of all ten teams.
